Improved filtering-press



L. P. R. DE MASSY.

Sug'ar Filter.

No. 51,124. Patented Nov. 21, 1865.

wit Inventor.

wmfi/ 4% 2 fJvM /KMI AM. PHOTO-THO. C0.N.Y. (OSBURN ES PROCESS.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

L. P. R. DE MASSY, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

IMPROVED FlLTERlNG-PRESS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 51,124, dated November21, 1865.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, L. P. R. DE MAssY, of Paris, in the Empire ofFrance, have invented a Filtering-Press; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

My invention consists of certain apparatus, fully described hereinafter,for expressing juices with rapidity and efficaey from a variety ofsubstances, the apparatus being of especial utility in the manufactureof sugar.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will nowproceed to describe its construction and operation.

The figure in the annexed drawing, which forms a part of thisspecification, represents a sectional elevation of my improvedfilteringpress.

A is a perforated metal casing, which I prefer to make of the taperingform represented, and which is secured at its lower end to thefoundation-plate L. Round the lower part of the casing extends areservoir or tank, 0, and from the upper end projects a pipe, 0, inwhich slides a gate, F.

Within the casing A is an inner casing, B, of caoutchouc or othersuitable elastic impervious material, which is secured at the upper endto a circular cap, a, connected to the perforated casing A, and at thelower end to a plate, 0, the latter fitting snugly into the lower end ofthe said casing A, where it is suitably packed. A perforated metalcasing, 9, extends from the bottom plate, 0, to an annular plate securedto the cap a, the whole being held firmly together by the verticalrodsff, two of which have rings on the outside of the cap, so that theinner flexible casing may be readily raised from the outer casing, A.

To a tubular projection on the plate 0 is connected one end of aflexible pipe, I, the other end of which communicates with the lower endof a cylinder, G, and within the latter a piston, H, is arranged toslide freely. With the lower end of this cylinder communicates anotherpipe, q, and with the upper end a steampipe, m, and an exit pipe,'n,both being furnished with suitable cocks.

D is a cylinder with the lower end of which communicates a pipe, h, theupper end of the latterbeingconuectedtothepipeC,(previously alluded toas projecting from the casing A near the upper end of the same.) and thecylinderD being provided with a piston, E. From the side of the lattercylinder, near the lower end ofthe same, projects a pipe,j, in which isa gate, F, and with the upper end of the cylinder com municate asteam-pipe, k, and at outlet-pipe if both of which are provided withcocks.

Operation: The gate F is first opened and the gate F closed, and thematerial to be pressed and filtered is allowed to flow from an adjacentreservoir through the pipe j into the cylinder D, the piston E beingthereby forced upward. After the cylinder D has been filled the gate Fis closed, the gate F is opened, and steam is admitted through the pipeIt into the cylinder above the piston, the latter being therebydepressed and the contents of the cylinder consequently forced throughthe tube h into the annular space which intervenes between theperforated casing A and the flexible casing B. While the cylinder D isbeing filled water is admitted through the pipe q into the cylinder G,the piston of which is forced upward. The gate F is now closed, steam isadmitted into the cylinder Gr through the pipe m above the piston H, andthelatter, asitdescends,

forces the water from the cylinder through the tube I into the interiorof the casing B, which is thus forced outward in all directions towardthe casing A, the material between the two casings being therebycompressed and the fluid matter in the same flowing through theperforations in the external easing into the tank 0. When all the fluidmatter has been thus forced and filtered through the casing A the Waterin the casin g Bis withdrawn by permitting the steam in the cylinder Gto escape through the pipe n, and the flexible casing is raised from thecasin g A, so th at theresidue canberemoved.

When it is desirable a layer of filtering material may be placed withinthe casing A and adjusted against the inside of the same.

The apparatus illustrated and described is especially adapted forextracting the juices, and other similar operations connected with themanufacture of sugar. It can, however, be used to advantage in othermanufactures.

The inner perforated casing, g, serves as a backing for the flexiblecasing and maintains the same within proper limits when the material tobe operated on is forced into'the annular space between the outer casingand flexible casin g.

Itwillbe evident thatcom pressed air or gases under pressure may be usedin place of steam for forcing the pistons downward, and other fluids maybe used in place of water for acting against the flexible casing.

Although I prefer the use of the two cylinders D and G in the mannerdescribed, the material to be pressed and filtered may be introduced tothe space between the two casings by other appliances.

It will also be apparent that the apparatus may be modified as regardsform and construction without departing from the main features of myinvention.

1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of aperforated casing, A, and flexible casing B, when used for thecompression and filtration of substances contained I in the spacebetween the two casings by the application of fluids under pressure tothe flexib le casing, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the above, the cylinder D, its piston E, and theinlet and outlet pipes, with their cocks and gate or the equivalent tothe same.

3. The combination of the cylinder G, its piston H, and inlet and outletpipes, and the cooks or their equivalents with the outer perforatedcasing, A, and inner flexible casing, B.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification beforetwo subscribing witnesses.

L. P. R. DE MASSY.

Witnesses:

E. RICHARD, E. SHERMAN GOULD.

